Seeds survive long sea voyages: coconut palm

1 of 2 Floating coconut / d q / License

The seeds of coconut palms survive long sea voyages because they are enclosed in nutrient-rich, water-filled protective shells.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain community >
	Provide ecosystem services >
	Disperse seeds

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Durable but ultimately biodegradable packaging

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Some trees send their seeds, not by air, but by sea. The most famous of all is the coconut palm. It dispatches its seed inside a hard shell that contains everything needed for a long voyage. Inside there is a supply of rich food, the so-called meat, and a half-a-pint or so of water. On the outside, it is fitted with a fibre float that keeps it on the surface of the water. This survival package serves it so well that coconut palms have colonised beaches throughout the tropics." (Attenborough 1995:21)

About the inspiring organism

Cocos nucifera
Cocos nucifera L.
[Palma de coco]

Some organism data provided by: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Durable but ultimately biodegradable packaging.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Transportation, packaging

References

Attenborough, D. 1995. The Private Life of Plants: A Natural History of Plant Behavior. London: BBC Books. 320 p.